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Gardening for Bird-Watchers: What to Plant

Our Favorite Plants for Bringing Sounds to the Yard!

From chirping, tweeting, and trilling to whistling, hooting, and cooing, birds can turn the quietest garden into a symphony of sounds that brighten any morning and enliven the day. We’ve put together a list of our eight favorite plants for beckoning birds or, in some cases, butterflies, which together not only bring beauty and pollinating power to the garden, but provide a wondrous treat for the ears.

1. Purple Coneflower

This reliable, full-sun, purple or pink perennial not only blooms long in summertime but also offers up seeds that birds love. The plant reaches up to about 3 feet high and comes back year after year with minimal care.

2. Fuchsia

A hummingbird favorite, this flowering plant comes in shrubs and small trees and sports intricately artful blooms. As if the gorgeous petals ranging from pink, blue, or white to orange, red, or violet weren’t enough, the plant produces edible fruit.

3. Crocosmia

It’s hard to go wrong with a thicket of crocosmia, a sun-loving, late-summer-blooming perennial with tubular red, orange, or yellow flowers that attract hummingbirds and butterflies. It easily multiplies, is drought tolerant, and can rise 2 to 4 feet.

4. Pigeonberry

This ground-cover plant not only produces beautiful red berries that birds savor, but it easily spreads, can take moist or dry soil, offers white or pink flowers, and thrives in the shade. Winning!

5. Black-Eyed Susan

Count on this easy-grow perennial not only to serve up vibrant pops of orange or gold from summer to fall but also to draw birds, butterflies, and even beneficial insects. Plus, it’s hardy, low maintenance, and a sweet addition to any bouquet.

6. Lyreleaf Sage

A ground cover that offers up white to purple-blue flowers, lyreleaf sage gets the attention of hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees, a trifecta of pollinators. It can grow up to 2 feet tall with a spread of 1 to 2 feet.

7. Lavender

With its enchanting scent, prized purple blooms, and uses in everything from soaps, lotions, and remedies to art and food, lavender is legendary. Pollinators such as hummingbirds, butterflies, and bumblebees love it, too.

8. Trees

Birds and trees go together like honey and tea, so it’s no wonder that trees in general would earn a spot on our list of faves. They make for great perching and offer habitat for raising chicks, hunting prey, and hiding from predators.

Remember, some plants may not work for every climate or region, so be sure to check with your local agricultural extension agency or other farming and gardening resource for the right plants to bring the sounds of birds and butterflies to your yard.

Got a few favorites of your own for attracting birds and other musical wildlife to the garden? Let us know! Share your suggestions on our Facebook page.